That is one of your problems.
You believe that if someone has a different definition of success than yours then that person is wrong. You want people to agree with you without you ever agreeing that others might not see the world through your glasses.

In the above example, you use a bottom of the barrell scenario. There are other examples that you chose to ignore.

If I said that I thought being a slum lord, with 10 different properties in a ghetto of a town in the middle of nowhere, that I have put a lot of money into and could not flip them didn't sound like a success to me then I'm sure you would not agree either. That is just one possible scenario for a property manager.

USMCFLYR

 

Who said anything about flying 121 for 30K? You said having a successful flying career is as plausible as winning the lottery. You also alluded to there being useless engineering degrees which is ridiculous. But I guess making good money, having good benefits, working on average 1-2 days a week which leaves plenty of time for me to do a number of things, doesn't fit your definition of being successful.

 

USMCFLR,

It is my belief that most come into aviation with similar needs and expectations as I and it is to them whom I am writing to. APC has a concentration of those who are perfectly fine with blowing a small fortune without hope of ever gaining a return or having a chance at a real life and that is fine. Someone has to do it after all however I do not believe that they are representative of the majority who are in or are considering aviation as a career.

I believe that my position is firmly in the middle of the majority. As such we need to be able to earn a good living, enjoy a stable career where we are valued, and want to be home with our friends and families. The majority who are considering this profession need to fully understand what it is that they are getting themselves into and my aim is to serve those ends.

You can take the outliers who don't mind living alone in a studio apartment under unstable working conditions because they get to fly a plane.

Skyhigh

 

I have held many similar jobs as you and have been on call for weeks and sat at home the whole time. The devil is in the details. People don't pay for nothing.

Pilot jobs come and go. Some are better than others but in general wages and working conditions are not getting better. You might have a good deal right now but you should take a good look at the big picture and ask yourself if you will still be happy in 10 years.

Other careers build value and security over time. Everyday they add skills or knowledge that will be a benefit to them in the future. Their jobs permit them to be on the same schedule with the rest of society. They are then able to cultivate meaningful relationships and activities that the rest of us associate with having a life.

Pilots are paid for what they will do not for what they can do.

Skyhigh

 

Once again Sky - can you acept that maybe, just maybe, everyone doesn't see the world through the same set of glasses as you?

No....you can't.
It is MY belief that many people can find happiness in aviation without having to work for ONE certain airline, in ONE certain geographical region, and make above a certain wage (set by your expectations) and may actually enjoy travel.

APC has a concentration of all types of pilots - successful and UNsuccessful.

I gave you two opportunities to influence two wanna-be pilots - fresh into the 'I'll do anything to be a pilot' mentality and you hardly gave them the time of day. Mssed opportunities for you to work your magic in my opinion.

USMCFLYR

 

USMCFLYR,

I accept that not everyone sees the world as I do and that is great. Others have different situations that don't apply and that too is wonderful. They are hereby excused from the obligation of replying to my posts.

Skyhigh

 

That is nice to hear.
Excused from replying?
Does that apply to you too?

Now...are you going to get back to work and start convincing those young wanna-bes to the error of their ways?
skylover is STILL planning on going to ERAU!
SAVE HIM!

USMCFLYR

 

My company has had a flight department for over 40 years and most of the guys I fly with have been here 20-35 years. They are growing in a down market and rely heavily on their airplanes. I'm sure they want to shut down the flight department so they can retract and not grow their business.

I'm sure a property manager has never lost their job. Along with everything right now there are no guarantees in any field, but some are more secure and stable than others. And believe it or not there are some flying jobs that are secure and stable.

You ask if I will be happy in ten years, why wouldn't I? Ten years from now I will probably be making more money because I am a valued employee that gets a raise on a yearly basis because they want us to stick around.

You say other careers build value and security over time, so does the one I have. And I guess I can't and don't build skills and knowledge on a daily basis that are valuable in the future. I don't want to be on the same schedule as the rest of society because that would mean I would have to go to work everyday and work long hours. Everyone I know wishes that they could have my schedule with my amount of time off. According to you I am then not able to cultivate meaningful relationships and activities that provide me with a good life because I have too much time on my hands?

My wife works from home and we have our first child on the way. We will be able to raise that child together on a daily basis because of our work schedules. Not many people are that lucky, probably not even yourself. I should quite my job tomorrow so that I can finally find a stable, good paying, 8-5 job so I can be away from home more, and be more stressed out by working a job I don't like so that I can associate more with society, right? Yeah, I will get right on that!

 

Best to let some go. There is an untold mass of silent readers here who are on the fence and can be saved. Skylover is on the aviation pipe and will not come off it until he is ready. When that day comes we both will be there.

Besides that most of the ones who start out the most determined sounding loose their passion just as fast.

Skyhigh

 

Red,

I hope the best for you. I have six kids. It changes things. If you have found aviation nirvana than bully for you. Most will not. It is a difficult business and getting harder everyday.

Skyhigh